IT was as if they had never been away.

After a low-key presence at last year’s national championships due to Covid, Warrington Masters Swimming Club sent a full team of nine to this year’s event in Sheffield.

In picking up a grand total of 27 medals across individual and relay events plus four British records and a European record, it is safe to say they are back with a bang.

Ben Harkin was a part of three of the four records, including one for himself of 57.24secs in the 100m butterfly which formed part of the two golds and a silver he won in the individual races.

He then combined with Trevor Eland, Spencer Glover and Russ Mason to set a new British record of 1min 53.38secs in the men’s 200+ 4x50m medley relay.

Warrington Guardian: The 4x50m relay British record breakersThe 4x50m relay British record breakers (Image: Contributed)

Harkin, Glover and Mason then teamed up with Chris Rix to win the 4x100m medley relay in 4mins 13.39secs – a new British and European record.

The other British record came for Mason, Rix, Mark Jones and Graham Padgett in the men’s 240+ 4x200m freestyle relay – a race they won in 9mins 35.29secs.

Warrington Guardian: The 4x200m record breakersThe 4x200m record breakers (Image: Contributed)

There was also a gold medal in the men’s 200+ 4x50m free and a silver in the men’s 200+ 4x100m free.

Individually, Jones brought home the most medals with three golds and two silvers while Rix picked up three golds and one silver.

Mason brought home three silver medals, Eland claimed one second-place finish while Glover picked up a silver and a bronze.

The club’s other individual medal winner was Lindsay Houlston, who claimed one bronze medal.